# Rest Bay, Porthcawl Surf Report & Forecast

> Rest Bay, Porthcawl surf report for today and a 7-day forecast. Porthcawl's reliable surf beach, with a huge tidal range. Check the tide first; timing is…

- Page type: Surf forecast for one break
- Canonical URL: https://swellotter.com/spot/restbay
- Last updated: 2026-11-09

Rest Bay, Porthcawl is a beachbreak in Wales. It works best on a south-west swell with a north-east wind, which blows offshore there. Best tide: low to mid; big tidal range changes it fast. It suits beginner, intermediate and advanced surfers. It is usually at its best in January, March and November. The sea ranges from about 8°C to 18°C over the year.

In three years of Open-Meteo data (2023 to 2025), Rest Bay, Porthcawl had rideable surf (2+ stars) on 73% of days and good surf (3+ stars) on 29%, was flat on 7% and 8ft or bigger on 8%. The most consistent month is January (95% of days rideable) and the quietest is June (37%). A typical winter day's best surf is about 4.7ft against 2.4ft in summer, the wind blows offshore for 4+ daylight hours on 17% of days, the average wind is 9.8 knots and about 1922mm of rain falls a year.

## Key facts
- Region: Wales, Wales
- Coordinates: 51.48, -3.75
- Type: Beachbreak; bottom: Reef & sand; wave: Peaks, 50-100m rides
- Best swell: south-west (SW); offshore wind: north-east (NE)
- Best tide: Low to mid; big tidal range changes it fast
- Suits: beginner, intermediate, advanced
- Best months: January, March, November
- Sea temperature over the year: 8–18°C

## Live forecast
The live 7-day forecast (surf height, star rating, swell, wind, tides, sunrise and sunset) is on https://swellotter.com/spot/restbay, refreshed at least hourly.


## About Rest Bay, Porthcawl
Rest Bay sits just west of Porthcawl, where the Bristol Channel opens to the Atlantic. It pulls in more swell than most of the South Wales coast and has a mix of sand and rocky shelves that give it shape through the tide.

The Bristol Channel has one of the biggest tidal ranges in the world, so the waves can change a lot in an hour. Lower tides suit most surfers. With good facilities, lifeguards and a surf school, it is a popular spot for learners and families from Cardiff and Swansea.

## Positives
- One of South Wales' most consistent spots
- Lifeguards, surf school and watersports centre
- Close to the M4
- Handles a range of swell sizes

## Negatives
- Busy at weekends
- Rocky patches at the edges
- Huge tide range moves the peaks quickly
- Onshore in SW wind

## Travel
- Getting there: Leave the M4 at junction 37 and follow signs to Porthcawl and Rest Bay, about 10 minutes. Bridgend is the nearest station.
- Parking: A large pay car park right by the beach and the watersports centre.
- Where to stay: Holiday parks, hotels and B&Bs in Porthcawl, and more in Bridgend.
- Hazards: Rocks at both ends and patches of reef across the beach. The tide comes in fast. Rips on bigger days at low tide.
- Nearby breaks: Coney Beach in Porthcawl and Llantwit Major further east.

## Month by month (three years of history, 2023 to 2025)
| Month | Rideable days | Good days | Flat days | Typical best surf | Sea temp | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 95% | 43% | 1% | 5.2ft | 8.6°C | 181mm |
| Feb | 85% | 46% | 0% | 4.4ft | 8.2°C | 141mm |
| Mar | 87% | 48% | 0% | 4.3ft | 8.5°C | 153mm |
| Apr | 76% | 37% | 8% | 3.1ft | 10.3°C | 127mm |
| May | 69% | 14% | 16% | 1.8ft | 13.3°C | 85mm |
| Jun | 37% | 8% | 28% | 2.2ft | 15.9°C | 97mm |
| Jul | 53% | 8% | 8% | 2.4ft | 17.4°C | 145mm |
| Aug | 49% | 15% | 10% | 2.7ft | 18.2°C | 141mm |
| Sep | 70% | 24% | 10% | 2.8ft | 17.6°C | 227mm |
| Oct | 76% | 30% | 4% | 3.3ft | 15.7°C | 180mm |
| Nov | 93% | 40% | 0% | 3.7ft | 13.2°C | 202mm |
| Dec | 85% | 34% | 2% | 4.5ft | 10.6°C | 243mm |

## Questions
### What conditions does Rest Bay, Porthcawl need?
Rest Bay, Porthcawl works best on a south-west swell with a north-east wind, which blows offshore there. It is a beachbreak with shifting peaks over reef and sand, and rides run about 50 to 100m. Best tide: Low to mid; big tidal range changes it fast. In 2023–2025 the wind blew offshore for 4+ daylight hours on 17% of days, and Rest Bay, Porthcawl had rideable surf (2+ stars) on 73% of days.

### When is the best time to surf Rest Bay, Porthcawl?
March is the most reliable month at Rest Bay, Porthcawl: in 2023–2025 it had good surf (3+ stars) on 48% of days. The best run of months is January, February and March, and winter (December to February) is the strongest season overall. Offshore winds are most common in March, when they blow for 4+ daylight hours on 26% of days. For good winter days, Rest Bay, Porthcawl ranks 7th of the 36 Wales breaks we track. Winter is the most consistent, with 88% of days rideable, but the water is coldest then.

### Is Rest Bay, Porthcawl good for surfing in summer?
Often not: Rest Bay, Porthcawl was flat on 15% of June to August days in 2023–2025, so keep a summer trip flexible. Good (3+ star) days made up 10% of summer, and July was the best summer month (53% rideable). The sea reaches about 18°C by late summer. For summer consistency it ranks 6th of the 36 Wales breaks we track.

### What wetsuit do I need at Rest Bay, Porthcawl?
At Rest Bay, Porthcawl you need a 5/4 from December to April, a 4/3 in May and in November and a 3/2 from June to October. Wear boots through the 5/4 months, and add a hood and gloves from January to March, when the sea is under 10°C. From July to September a spring suit will do on warm days. In February, the coldest month, Rest Bay, Porthcawl had good surf on 46% of days, against 15% in August. The sea is coldest in February at about 8°C and warmest in August at about 18°C, while the air reaches about 9°C on a February afternoon.

### How big do the waves get at Rest Bay, Porthcawl?
On a typical day the best surf at Rest Bay, Porthcawl is about 4.7ft in winter and 2.4ft in summer. It was 8ft or bigger on 8% of days in 2023–2025, most often in December. It was flat on 7% of days, most often in June.

### Is Rest Bay, Porthcawl good for beginners?
Yes, on small days. Rest Bay, Porthcawl has sandy footing and spots for learners, but it gets powerful as the swell builds. Lifeguards, surf school and watersports centre. The gentlest months that still have surf are May, July and August.

### Is it safe to surf at Rest Bay, Porthcawl?
Yes when it's small, but know this. Rocks at both ends and patches of reef across the beach. The tide comes in fast. Rips on bigger days at low tide. Lifeguards cover it in season (check RNLI dates).

### How busy does Rest Bay, Porthcawl get?
Often busy. Busy at weekends. For more room, try Ogmore-by-Sea (8 km away) and Hunts Bay (24 km away).

### How do I get to Rest Bay, Porthcawl, and where can I stay?
Leave the M4 at junction 37 and follow signs to Porthcawl and Rest Bay, about 10 minutes. Bridgend is the nearest station. Where to stay: Holiday parks, hotels and B&Bs in Porthcawl, and more in Bridgend.

### Where else can I surf near Rest Bay, Porthcawl?
When Rest Bay, Porthcawl isn't working, these nearby breaks often are: Lynmouth (28 km away) is offshore in a south wind and Oxwich Bay (29 km away) is offshore in a west-north-west wind. Also close by: Coney Beach in Porthcawl and Llantwit Major further east.

## Next steps
- [Rest Bay, Porthcawl live surf forecast](https://swellotter.com/spot/restbay)
- [Rest Bay, Porthcawl surf guide](https://swellotter.com/surf/restbay)
- [Wales surf guide](https://swellotter.com/region/wales)
- [Sign up for swell alerts (form at the foot of any page)](https://swellotter.com/spot/restbay)
- [How the forecast and star rating work](https://swellotter.com/about)
- [All UK surf forecasts](https://swellotter.com/)

## About Swell Otter
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